Characterization of a G. max × G. soja nested association mapping population and identification of loci controlling seed composition traits from wild soybean.

Wild soybean (Glycine soja Siebold & Zucc.) has valuable genetic diversity for improved disease resistance, stress tolerance, seed protein content and seed sulfur-containing amino acid concentrations. Many studies have reported loci controlling seed composition traits based on cultivated soybean populations, but wild soybean has been largely overlooked.

Intra-tumoral susceptibility signals in brain gliomas: where do we stand?

Nowadays, the genetic and biomolecular profile of neoplasms-related with their biological behaviour-have become a key issue in oncology, as they influence many aspects of both diagnosis and treatment. In the neuro-oncology field, neuroradiological research has recently explored the potential of non-invasively predicting the molecular phenotype of primary brain neoplasms, particularly gliomas, based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), using both conventional and advanced imaging techniques. Among these, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI), MR spectroscopy (MRS) and susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) and have been used to explore various aspects of glioma biology, including predicting treatment response and understanding treatment-related changes during follow-up imaging.

3D Printed Materials with Nanovoxelated Elastic Moduli.

Fabrication methods that synthesize materials with higher precision and complexity at ever smaller scales are rapidly developing. Despite such advances, generating complex 3D materials with controlled mechanical properties at the nanoscale remains challenging. Exerting precise control over mechanical properties at the nanoscale would enable material strengths near theoretical maxima, and the replication of natural structures with hitherto unattainable strength-to-weight ratios.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy in pharmaceutical analysis: from component determination to mechanism research.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) technology, possessing extraordinary sensitivity and an outstanding ability to furnish molecular-level information, has emerged as a revolutionary technique within the domain of analytical chemistry. This review comprehensively and in-depthly investigates the application of SERS in the field of pharmaceutical analysis, encompassing detailed analyses in diverse aspects such as ingredient identification, quality control, mechanism of action, and efficacy evaluation. Firstly, we introduce the key aspects of SERS technology, including its working principle, substrate preparation methods, and crucial factors in the experimental design process.

Sequencing in over 50,000 cases identifies coding and structural variation underlying atrial fibrillation risk.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent and morbid abnormality of the heart rhythm with a strong genetic component. Here, we meta-analyzed genome and exome sequencing data from 36 studies that included 52,416 AF cases and 277,762 controls. In burden tests of rare coding variation, we identified novel associations between AF and the genes MYBPC3, LMNA, PKP2, FAM189A2 and KDM5B.

Meta-analysis of genome-wide associations and polygenic risk prediction for atrial fibrillation in more than 180,000 cases.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm abnormality and is a leading cause of heart failure and stroke. This large-scale meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies increased the power to detect single-nucleotide variant associations and found more than 350 AF-associated genetic loci. We identified candidate genes related to muscle contractility, cardiac muscle development and cell-cell communication at 139 loci.

Cancer Photodynamic Therapy Enabled by Water-Soluble Chlorophyll Protein.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been utilized to treat various malignant cancers for more than a century. However, many photosensitizers (e.g.

Ultrafast on-demand exciton formation in a single-molecule junction by tailored terahertz pulses.

The ultrafast manipulation of molecular states by charge transfer is essential for characterizing and controlling molecular dynamics. In this study, we demonstrated exciton formation in a single molecule through ultrafast electron tunneling processes between a molecule and a metal tip of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) using a phase-controlled terahertz (THz) pulse. The pronounced luminescence of the well-defined molecular system under the distinct carrier-envelope phase of the THz pulse revealed that sequential state-selective electron-tunneling processes to the frontier molecular orbitals promoted ultrafast exciton formation in the molecule at the STM junction.

Optimal control-based nuclear spin cross-polarization in the presence of complicating anisotropic interactions.

Cross-polarization is an indispensable part of solid state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to enhance sensitivity and extract structural information. However, the presence of certain anisotropic interactions, including chemical shift anisotropy and quadrupolar coupling, makes the inter-nuclear spin correlation experiments challenging. This impedes characterization of numerous materials and pharmaceutical compounds containing isotopes, such as F with large chemical shift anisotropy and Li, Na, Al, , with quadrupolar coupling.

Structure and supramolecular organization of silver nitrate modified epoxy or amino terminated liquid oligoethers.

The behavior of silver nitrate in non-aqueous liquid oligomeric media-aromatic and aliphatic diglycidyl ethers and aliphatic diamine-has been investigated. By employing UV-visible spectrophotometry and dynamic light scattering, it has been shown that in diglycidyl oligomers, regardless of the nature of the monomeric unit, the formation of silver nanoparticles occurs, and the kinetics of this process has been studied. At the same time, in the medium of aliphatic diamine, the reduction of silver ions is absent, indicating the formation of a complex compound.

Comprehensive review of chickpea (Cicer arietinum): Nutritional significance, health benefits, techno-functionalities, and food applications.

Chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) are globally valued legume known for their affordability, nutritional significance, and health benefits. They are rich in protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals such as iron, zinc, folate, and magnesium.

Improved Orthogonality in Naphthalimide/Cyanine Dyad Boosts Superoxide Generation: a Tumor-Targeted Type-I Photosensitizer for Photodynamic Therapy of Tumor by Inducing Ferroptosis.

It is highly desired to achieve Type-I photosensitizer (PS) to overcome the hypoxic limitation found in most clinically used PSs. Herein, a new heavy-atom-free Type-I PS T-BNCy5 is presented by incorporating a biotin-modified naphthalimide (NI) unit into the meso-position of a N-benzyl-functionalized, strongly photon-capturing pentamethine cyanine (Cy5) dye. Such molecular engineering induces a rigid orthogonal geometry between NI and Cy5 units by introducing an intramolecular sandwich-like π-π stacking assembly, which effectively promotes intersystem crossing (ISC) and greatly extends the triplet-state lifetime (τ = 389 µs), thereby markedly improving the superoxide (O )-generating ability.

Folate receptor alpha for cancer therapy: an antibody and antibody-drug conjugate target coming of age.

Folate receptor alpha (FRα) has long been the focus of therapeutics development in oncology across several solid tumors, notably ovarian, lung, and subsets of breast cancers. Its multiple roles in cellular metabolism and carcinogenesis and tumor-specific overexpression relative to normal tissues render FRα an attractive target for biological therapies. Here we review the biological significance, expression distribution, and characteristics of FRα as a highly promising and now established therapy target.

Optical signature of retinal Tau fibrillation.

Fibrillated Tau proteins are believed to be a signature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and may be potentially employed as a biosensor for AD early detection. Several studies revealed the presence of Tau accumulation and aggregation in the retina, similar to that observed in the brains of individuals with AD. These retinal changes can be non-invasively visualised through AD-related scores derived from reflectance measurements of the patient fundus.

Structural and antigenic characterization of Babesia Bovis HAP2 domains.

The tick-borne apicomplexan parasite Babesia bovis causes bovine babesiosis which leads to enormous food and economic losses around the world. The existing resources to manage this disease are limited and have pitfalls, therefore, introduction of new strategies is urgently needed. B.

Controls on the geochemical composition of surface water in Alfeios River basin in the transition era of lignite mine closure at Megalopolis, Greece.

The Megalopolis region is undergoing a transition from over 50 years of lignite mining to new land uses, with the hydrogeochemical assessment of surface waters being a key factor in post-mining rehabilitation and environmental monitoring. In March 2024, 24 surface water samples were collected from upstream to downstream locations along the Alfeios River and its tributaries, flowing near the mining areas. A combination of tools including hydrogeochemistry, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and stable isotopes (δH-HO and δO-HO, δN-NO and δO-NO, δS-SO), were employed to assess the geochemical status of surface waters and identify the origin of major ions and trace elements.

Synthesis of Novel Phenanthroimidazole Based Beta-Diketone Compounds: Investigation of Their Spectroscopic Properties and Electrochemical Characterization.

In this study, three new phenanthroimidazole based beta-biketone compounds containing different donor (methoxy and dodecyloxy) and acceptor (cyano) groups were synthesized. Spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of the synthesized compounds were studied. FTIR, H-NMR, C-NMR, and LC-MS/MS were carried out for the structural analyses of the phenanthroimidazole derivatives.

Novel efficient deep-red emitting phosphor SrCaGaO:Mn with tululite-related structure.

Mn-activated phosphors have been attracted to replace the rare-earth-activated phosphors in the use of deep-red optical devices. Owing to their low toxicity and wide applications, oxide materials are promising hosts for Mn phosphors. Exploration into novel oxides is important for developing new Mn-doped phosphors with high luminescent efficiencies.

Revitalizing Antibiotics with Macromolecular Engineering: Tackling Gram-Negative Superbugs and Mixed Species Bacterial Biofilm Infections In Vivo.

The escalating prevalence of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens, coupled with dwindling antibiotic development, has created a critical void in the clinical pipeline. This alarming issue is exacerbated by the formation of biofilms by these superbugs and their frequent coexistence in mixed-species biofilms, conferring extreme antibiotic tolerance. Herein, we present an amphiphilic cationic macromolecule, ACM-A, as an innovative antibiotic adjuvant to rejuvenate and repurpose resistant antibiotics, for instance, rifampicin, fusidic acid, erythromycin, and chloramphenicol.

Bi-Metal Metamaterial Absorber for Wearable Sweat Sensing and Energy Harvesting Applications.

The design and implementation of sensing and power mechanisms in microdevices for biomedical applications present significant challenges. In this context, we introduce a new three-layer bi-metallic metamaterial absorber. This absorber exhibits better performance characteristics, including broadband absorption above 90% in the optical wavelength range (300nm to 700nm) and narrow-band absorption above 99% in the infrared spectrum (700nm to 1800nm), facilitated by the integration of two distinct metals, aluminum, and copper.

2024 VCP International Conference: Exploring multi-disciplinary approaches from basic science of valosin containing protein, an AAA+ ATPase protein, to the therapeutic advancement for VCP-associated multisystem proteinopathy.

Valosin-containing protein (VCP/p97) is a ubiquitously expressed AAA+ ATPase associated with numerous protein-protein interactions and critical cellular functions including protein degradation and clearance, mitochondrial homeostasis, DNA repair and replication, cell cycle regulation, endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation, and lysosomal functions including autophagy and apoptosis. Autosomal-dominant missense mutations in the VCP gene may result in VCP-associated multisystem proteinopathy (VCP-MSP), a rare degenerative disorder linked to heterogeneous phenotypes including inclusion body myopathy (IBM) with Paget's disease of bone (PDB) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) or IBMPFD, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's disease (AD), parkinsonism, Charcot-Marie Tooth disease (CMT), and spastic paraplegia. The complexity of VCP-MSP makes collaboration among stakeholders essential and necessitates a multi-disciplinary approach.

Naturally occurring asbestos in Southern Italy: Geological and mineralogical investigation of fibrous antigorite from Calabrian serpentinites in view of its hazard assessment.

In the last few decades, non-occupational asbestos-related diseases have been documented in populations living near naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) sites, including regions in Greece, Cyprus, China, New Caledonia, Turkey, and Italy. This highlights the critical need to assess geological and environmental hazards associated with NOA. Fibrous antigorite, among the >400 naturally occurring fibrous minerals, has emerged as a potential health and environmental hazard.

Berberine-loaded albumin nanoparticles alleviate liver damage in rats by modulating mitochondrial biogenesis and mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum interactions.

The liver performs essential functions critical to overall health. This study evaluated the efficacy of berberine-loaded albumin nanoparticles (BRB-BSA NPs) and cisplatin in mitigating hepatic damage caused by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl) in male albino rats. Molecular modeling was conducted to explore BRB interactions with Sirt1, a NAD-dependent protein deacetylase involved in key cellular pathways.

Electrochemical CO Reduction in Acidic Media: A Perspective.

The electrochemical CO reduction reaction (eCORR) is a promising approach for converting CO to useful chemicals and, hence, achieving carbon neutrality. Though high selectivity and activity of products have been achieved recently, all are reported in neutral or alkaline electrolytes. Although these electrolyte media give high selectivity and activity, they face the major challenge of low CO utilization because of carbonate formation, which lowers the overall efficiency of the process.

PLUMED Tutorials: A collaborative, community-driven learning ecosystem.

In computational physics, chemistry, and biology, the implementation of new techniques in shared and open-source software lowers barriers to entry and promotes rapid scientific progress. However, effectively training new software users presents several challenges. Common methods like direct knowledge transfer and in-person workshops are limited in reach and comprehensiveness.